CONFESSIONS: Wednesdays 5.45pm to 6.05pm

CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays, from 11am to 2pm for reflections before the Blessed Sacrament

READINGS FOR 15 FEBRUARY
1^st Reading: Sirach 15:15-20, He has not commanded anyone to be ungodly
Psalm 119: Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 2:6-10, A wisdom God decreed before the ages, for our glory.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:17-37, It was said to those of old, but I say to you
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed the secrets of the kingdom to little children.  Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: They ate and had their fill, and what they craved, the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY
For children with incurable diseases
We pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and emotional support, never losing strength and hope.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
17 February – Seven Founders of the Order of Servites
18 February – ASH WEDNESDAY: a day of fasting and abstinence
21 February – St Peter Damian

CHILDREN’S LITURGY (‘LITTLE CHURCH’) TODAY

1^st COMMUNION / CONFIRMATION  PREPARATION TODAY
Our preparation sessions continue after Mass.  We will meet in church (not the hall!).

LAST YEARS PALM CROSSES
Please bring in your palm crosses from last year’s Palm Sunday, so they can be used on Ash Wednesday.  Either bring them along to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Social or drop them off at 39 Kearsley Avenue.  Many thanks.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKES: Tuesday 17 February CHANGE OF VENUE!
Huge thanks to Vivienne and Fr John, who won’t allow a little thing like a broken boiler to spoil a good party.  The evening is now re-located to their house. Please buy your ticket today and help to raise urgent funds for a new hall boiler. Only £5 – plus bring a bottle. Any offers to make and provide a mix would be very much appreciated.

LENT & RAMADAN OBSERVANCE – ASH WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY
2026 marks the first time in over 30 years when Ash Wednesday (and the start of Lent) coincides with the first fast day of Ramadan.  Parishioners will be fasting and abstaining, but may also wish to consider joining in solidarity, with the prayer times for Ramadan, and not eat between sunrise and sunset on 18 February.
Fajr: 5.54am                       –       Prayers before sunrise
Sunrise: 7.21am
Dhuhr: 12.23pm                –       Prayers after sunrise
Asr: 2.51pm                        –       Prayers in late afternoon
Maghrib/Iftar: 5.25pm    –       Sunset
Isha: 7.15pm                        –       Prayers after sunset
The fast is usually broken by eating a couple of dates (Medjool or Sukkari), to prepare the digestive system for more food, however we can break our fast with Holy Communion.  This is a lovely opportunity for us to be in supernatural solidarity with brothers and sisters, in our different faiths – especially for those trying to observe Ramadan in Gaza, Iran and Syria.  It also helps to further our understanding of the discipline shown by other faiths, in ‘schooling the soul’.

FAMILY OF PARISHES – WE NEED YOUR REFLECTIONS & FEEDBACK!
Further to last week’s presentation, your thoughts and feedback are absolutely essential.  Post-it notes are available for you to identify the preferred option / least preferred option / any other thoughts.  In addition, Fr Matthew Nunes will be leading an evening for all parishioners on Wednesday 25 February, 7pm to 8.30pm, in church.  He will try to answer queries and explain the process so we hope that there will be a good turn-out, to show just how much we care about Our Lady’s.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2026 INVITATION
Everyone is warmly welcome to attend this year’s Day of Prayer, which is on Friday 6 March at Hesketh Lane Church (opposite TCP), beginning at 7.30pm.  This year the service has been prepared by the women of Nigeria, who have taken as their theme: ‘I will give you rest: come’.  The service consists of prayers, reflections and songs; representatives from our eight local churches will be taking part.  The service will last approx. one hour and there will be light refreshments afterwards.  Do come along if you’re able – and bring a family member / friend.

CARLO ACUTIS: FIRST CLASS RELIC AND EXHIBITION OF EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES
Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) had a great devotion to the Eucharist. Using his knowledge of computers, he created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles, thereby bringing the truth of the mystery of Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist to the forefront of people’s understanding.
Our Lady and All Saints Church, Parbold are privileged to be able to host a First Class Relic of Saint Carlo Acutis for nine days in February. The Relic will be sited in the Church (Lancaster Lane, WN8 7HS).
At the same time, they will be holding an exhibition of 30 (of the 160) Eucharistic miracles he curated. Each miracle will be displayed as a poster panel and each accompanied by historical details and scientific analysis. The Exhibition will be located in the adjacent Our Lady and All Saints school (Brandreth Drive, Parbold WN8 7HB) – a short walk from the church.
Both events will run from Saturday 14^th to Sunday 22^nd February and opening times are:
Saturdays and Sundays: 11:30am to 3:00pm; Monday to Friday: 11:30am to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
There is parking and accessibility at both locations and Exhibition notes, prayer cards and children’s activities will be available at the exhibition. (All children must be accompanied by an adult).
Contact details are 01257 463248, email: parbold@hotmail.com, or via the parish website: www.ourladysparbol.org.uk

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, A successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable – on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  Every effort will be made to find a date as close as possible.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny!  Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap. 
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make.  It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free! 
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank.  Forms are available in the porch.

PRAYERFUL REFLECTION BEFORE MASS
Some of our parishioners who like to pray and have a few moments of quiet reflection before the start of Mass.  And of course, we have every opportunity to have a chat and catch-up after Mass. 
Our monthly coffee mornings provide an ideal occasion for this! 

CHURCH CLEANING / FLOWER ARRANGING
Thank you to those who have already said that they’d be interested in helping out.  Diane would like to start putting rotas together, so please can you let her know your availability.  Church cleaning is only twice a month and flower arranging is every other week.  Please have a word with her after Mass today, or ring on 07876 363779. Thank you.

VOTIVE CANDLES
People have been asking how much they should donate for a votive candle.  Fr John is happy to leave it to your discretion, as all donations will be gratefully received – whenever they are made.

GLUTEN FREE SACRAMENT AVAILABLE
Please indicate to Fr John if you need to receive a gf host when you come to receive communion.

ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA: The Loving Generosity of Christ
He is generous to exhaustion and what is most wonderful is that he gives himself thus entirely, not once only but every
day, if we wish it.  Every fresh Communion is a new gift, which Jesus Christ makes of himself.